Axially-adjustable electrode treatment systems and methods

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for providing controlled delivery of energy treatment to a tissue site. The systems, apparatuses, and methods may include designs with features for efficiently deploying and adjusting electrodes at a tissue site for treatment and for facilitating retraction of the electrodes back into a housing after completion of treatment for removal. The systems, apparatuses, and methods may further include an expansion member for radially expanding the flexible substrate to aid in positioning the electrodes adjacent the tissue to facilitate treatment.

1 . An electrode treatment system, the system comprising:
 a first flexible member with a first expandable support member coupled thereto, wherein the first expandable support member is configured to expand from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration;   a second flexible member with a second expandable support member coupled thereto, wherein the second expandable support member is configured to expand from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration; and   a first electrode coupled to the first expandable support member and a second electrode coupled to the second expandable support member, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured for collectively delivering energy to a tissue surface for treatment thereof,   wherein a position of the first expandable support member is adjustable independently of a position of the second expandable support member to adjust a target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode for treatment of the tissue surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible member includes a hollow interior with a cavity extending therethrough and opening at a distal end portion of the first flexible member, and wherein the second flexible member extends through the cavity and distally of the distal end portion of the first flexible member. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheath including a hollow interior with a cavity extending therethrough and opening at a distal end portion of the sheath, and wherein both the first flexible member and the second flexible member each extend through the cavity and distally relative to the distal end portion of the sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member are in the stowed configuration within the sheath when the first flexible member and the second flexible member are positioned within the cavity of the sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are movable along an axial direction through the cavity and distally of the sheath to expand the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, and wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are retractable along the axial direction into the cavity to retract the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member each spontaneously expand from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration in response to the respective first flexible member and the second flexible member extending distally of the sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more expansion members coupled to one or both of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member, wherein the one or more expansion members are radially expandable to expand the one or both of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member each include a braided mesh frame. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein an exterior surface of the braided mesh frame includes a protective coating to reduce tissue trauma during delivery to the tissue surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member are each expansion members that are radially expandable. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a ring-shaped structure and is disposed on a distal end portion of the first expandable support member, and wherein the second electrode is a ring-shaped structure and is disposed on a distal end portion of the second expandable support member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a plurality of point-contact electrodes disposed on a distal end portion of the first expandable support member, and wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of point-contact electrodes disposed on a distal end portion of the second expandable support member. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock the position of the first expandable support member relative to the position of the second expandable support member to maintain the target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode during treatment of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a frame extending between and coupling the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member with one another, the frame being adjustable to adjust the target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the frame, the first expandable support member, and the second expandable support member are each braided mesh frames. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one expansion member coupled to the frame, wherein the expansion member is radially expandable to expand the frame and adjust the target spacing of the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         17 . An electrode treatment system, the system comprising:
 a delivery system including a first expandable support member and a second expandable support member, wherein the first expandable support member includes a first electrode coupled thereto and the second expandable support member includes a second electrode coupled thereto, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured for delivering energy to a tissue surface for treatment thereof; and   a controller in operable communication with the delivery system, the controller configured to:   independently adjust a relative position of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member based on a target energy level for application to the tissue surface to adjust a target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode for treatment of the tissue surface; and   induce a voltage based on the target energy level and the target spacing of the first electrode and the second electrode to treat the tissue surface.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first expandable support member is coupled to a first flexible member and the second expandable support member is coupled to a second flexible member, and wherein the controller is operable to drive one or both of the first flexible member and the second flexible member relative to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first flexible member includes a hollow interior with a cavity extending therethrough and opening at a distal end portion of the first flexible member, and wherein the second flexible member is adjustable via the controller through the cavity and distally of a distal end portion of the first flexible member. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a sheath including a hollow interior with a cavity extending therethrough and opening at a distal end portion of the sheath, and wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are each adjustable via the controller through the cavity of the sheath. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are movable along an axial direction through a cavity of a sheath and distally of the sheath to expand the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member are retractable along the axial direction into the cavity to retract the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a locking mechanism in operable communication with the controller, wherein the locking mechanism is operable to selectively lock the position of the first expandable support member relative to the position of the second expandable support member via the controller to maintain the target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode during treatment of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein when the first electrode and the second electrode are locked in the target spacing, the controller is further operable to adjust a rate of movement of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member while inducing the voltage for continuous treatment of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more expansion members coupled to one or both of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member, wherein the one or more expansion members are radially expandable to expand the one or both of the first expandable support member and the second expandable support member and adjust the target spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the controller is in communication with the one or more expansion members, and wherein the controller is operable to control an expansion rate of the one or more expansion members. 
     
     
         26 - 44 . (canceled)